It’s been a long day of moving, but you’re finally an official college student! Now that your parents have kissed you goodbye, you’re all on your own. You’re really hungry, but unfortunately, mom’s homemade cookies-and-milk just isn’t an option anymore. Since you’re all wrapped up in your Snuggie, walking somewhere to get food jsn’t going to happen. What do you do?

Well luckily, you’ve been armed with a refrigerator and a microwave. You can cook more than you think with your limited dorm room equipment. Here are some easy-peasy recipes any microwave aficionado can cook up in a jiffy!

Breakfast

A hearty breakfast is the best way to kick-start your day. Here are some great meals you can cook from the comfort of your room, and still make it to class on time. Just try not to wake up your roommate.

Scrambled Eggs – For some reason, my parents ALWAYS cooked eggs in the microwave. I thought this was the normal way to do things until I saw my boyfriend cook them in a frying pan. Believe it or not, microwave eggs are actually pretty tasty, and easy to make. Beat 2-3 eggs (or egg whites) with a splash of milk, a little butter (optional) and some salt and pepper (also optional). Microwave for a minute or two, take it out, beat it again, and microwave until there’s no more liquid left. Quick and tasty!

Oatmeal – For a quick, hot breakfast that’s cholesterol-friendly, throw a packet of oatmeal in a bowl, add water, and heat. To sweeten things up, toss on a dash of brown sugar. This is a nutritious way to start your day, and it’s full of fiber!

Healthy Yogurt – Okay, so maybe this isn’t a microwave recipe, but it’s one that’s worth passing on. Buy a container of PLAIN yogurt. You can use either non-fat or 2%. I would recommend Chobani. Then add some plain nuts. You can use raw nuts, or roasted ones, just pick whatever you like. You can then sweeten it with honey or maple syrup. It will be yummy AND keep you full, and it’s quick. It will also help you out if you’re worried about gaining that “Freshman 15.” I found the recipe here.

Lunch

If you’re lucky enough to have a break between classes, you’re probably looking for something quick and tasty. Here are some quick recipes for that hurried lunch break.

Macaroni and Cheese – Nothing’s easier than Easy Mac! You can buy individually packaged cups of mac ‘n’ cheese. All you have to do is add water and heat.

Quesadillas – In the mood for some Mexican? Sprinkle shredded cheese on a flat tortilla and microwave until the cheese is melted. If that’s too plain for you, you can add tomato, bell pepper, or some pre-cooked chicken slices to spice things up. To top it off, add salsa and sour cream.

Stir Fry – For a healthy rice bowl, steam brown rice in a bowl of water in the microwave. Next, cook a bowl of frozen veggies according to package instructions. Add peanut sauce or another stir-fry sauce of your choosing, and you have a super-healthy Asian-inspired dish.

Dinner

After a long day of classes, you’ll probably be craving something substantial for dinner. Here are some recipes that will keep you full way into the wee hours of the night – so you can cram for your exam, of course!

Shepherd’s Pie – For a hearty (and cheap!) dinner option, consider making shepherd’s pie. All you need for this recipe is a can of chunky beef stew or soup, and some instant potatoes. Put the soup in a bowl, and heat. Whip up the instant potatoes, put them on top of the soup, and enjoy!

Baked Potato – A baked potato is a delicious addition to any meal. It’s super easy too. Poke some holes in a potato with a fork. Wrap it in a paper towel, and microwave it for several minutes until you can easily jab the fork through to the center. You can dress it up any way you’d like – but I’d recommend butter and sour cream.

Spaghetti – Believe it or not, you can make spaghetti in your microwave. Cook noodles in the microwave by heating them in a bowl of water until soft. Once you drain the cooked pasta, mix in some pre-made pasta sauce. The heat from the noodles may be enough to warm the sauce, but if you’d like it hotter, you can pop it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds.

Entertaining

For those late-night dorm room get-togethers, it’s nice to have some munchies to pass around. While cookies and bags of chips are acceptable college fare, here are some even tastier snacks to keep the party going.

Chili Dip – Dress up plain tortilla chips by making this easy microwave chili dip. All you need is a can of bean-less chili, some shredded cheese, and a block of cream cheese. Take a microwave-safe pan, and spread the cream cheese on the bottom. Pour the whole can of chili on top of that, and sprinkle with cheese. You should cook this on high for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling. Serve this delicious dip with tortilla chips.

Cake in a Mug – This is the perfect dessert for a chilly winter night. It’s great to split with that special someone, or to have whenever your sweet tooth is calling for a quick pick-me-up. You will need a few different baking ingredients, including oil, egg, flour, and hot chocolate mix, but it’s easy to put together, even if baking isn’t your forté. You can find a great recipe here, or you can buy prepackaged desserts that make individuals servings of cake.

Poor College Student S’mores – I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Hershey Bars are EXPENSIVE. And sometimes, after a hard day, you just need a little bit of chocolate. Take one graham cracker and lay it flat on a microwave-safe plate. Place chocolate chips on top of the graham cracker. Tear up the marshmallows and put them on top of the graham cracker too. Heat for 25 seconds, and voila, you have a s’more, minus the expensive candy.

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This Post Has 3 Comments

Wonderful ideas for college students or anyone who dont feel like waiting hours until dinners ready tried spaghetti in micowave takes only 7 or 8 minuties just rinse add sauce cheese ready to eat in less time

I am a Resident Advisor at school and have put on programs similar to this, but some of these are great ideas! I love the s’mores idea and definitely need to start making scrambled eggs in the microwave. I forgot that my mom used to do that when I was little and she called it an “Eggy Peggy”. Haha. Delish.